The Hurricanes got a good taste of the elements they might face Saturday at the Duck Commander Independence Bowl.

The forecast calls for more than a 60-percent chance of rain in Shreveport on game day, with temperatures in the 60s decreasing to the low 40s at night.

On Tuesday at the First Baptist Church in Bossier City, the wind whipped, the air was cold and the rain came down hard, making players slip-slide on the artificial turf during some drills.

“We don’t know exactly what the forecast is yet but if it is like that I think that will help us,’’ UM coach Al Golden said. “We got a lot done, so at the end of the day it wasn’t all perfect, but we got used to the conditions.”

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“Whatever weather that will happen on Saturday I think we’ll be ready for it now,” D’Onofrio said. “[Monday] it was warm — 60 degrees. And [Tuesday] it was raining sideways and freezing.”

This and that

▪ Golden said that freshman left guard Nick Linder (knee, wrist), who wore a yellow (limited contact) jersey Tuesday, was “a little better. It’s going to be down to the wire for him. Maybe he can do more tomorrow.’’

▪ When asked whether junior left tackle Ereck Flowers has told Golden if he is turning pro after this season, the coach said, “No. Any of those questions will be addressed after the game.”

▪ Junior running back Duke Johnson, who already disclosed that he will announce on Sunday whether he is turning pro, said he has already made his decision. He added that he might announce that decision during a news conference at UM.

▪ South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said Gamecocks receiver Shaq Roland “is not with the team anymore. I think he’s elected to maybe drop out of school and go pro. That was his choice and we wish him the best.”